FEBRUARY
2015
www.ruc.org.au
Surface Interval
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February 2015
CONTENTS
FROM THE PRESIDENT
3
FROM THE EDITOR
4
FROM THE DIVE OFFICER
4
APRÈS DIVE
4
WEBSITE OF THE MONTH
6
DIVE REPORTS
-
6
WET CALENDAR AND TIDES FOR, Dec, Jan
14
CONTACTS
15
RYDE UNDERWATER CLUB MEMBERSHIP FEES for 2014-2015:
Single $85
Family Concession $130
Social $30
Membership renewals are due 30thJune each year.
Pro rata membership fees are available for new members joining during the year.
EMERGENCY & INFORMATION PHONE NUMBERS
Diving Emergency Service (DES) within Australia
Diving Emergency Service (DES) outside Australia
1800 088 200
+61 8 8373 5312
Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick
(02) 9382 3575
Westpac Rescue Service
(02) 9311 3499
Coast Guard Sydney
(02) 9337 5033
Coast Guard Sydney Boating Weather
(02) 9337 5455
Coast Guard Sydney Boating Weather at 6.50 am and at 2 hour intervals
Radio 27 MHz
Reporting suspected Illegal Fishing – DPI (Fisheries)
1800 043 536
NSW Maritime Authority - Sydney Boating Weather
131 236 (opt 3)
IF IN DOUBT - ALWAYS RING 000
BOAT LAUNCHING RAMPS
Map Reference (2003 Editions)
UBD
Gregory’s
Bayview
118 H13
169 B12
Tunks Park
216 H3
316 C3
Kyeemagh
275 C12
404 C12
Gunnamatta Bay
334 P13
493 J13
Surface Interval
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February 2015
From the PRESIDENT
Come on in the water's fine....
Now after a break & while the water's warm it's time to get out into the water for a dive or
three.
The Christmas Ulladulla trip was a good time with some great dives.
The Australia Day weekend at Port Stephens also had wonderful diving.
We all look forward to some good conditions & dives around locally.
Hope to see you soon on the boat.
The club would like to thank Dennis at Frog Dive Willoughby for his generous support of
the club with the December tank testing.
Easter Weekend 2nd-6th April Port Stephens.
Attention all RUC'ites we need some keen members for the Easter weekend away.
Get out in the boat to Broughton Island if conditions are good.
The tides are great for shore diving with a morning dive and night dive 8-9am/pm.
Book now while there are still spaces available!
Bay Holiday Park at Anna Bay has powered & unpowered campsites available.
Members can book their accommodation directly with the park on 02 4982 1438 (mention
you are with RUC to be close together).
Contact Andrew if you are thinking of going
Let's get briny
Cheers
Mal de mer
President
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
Send in your articles and/or post them on RUC Facebook page.
I just spent 17 days diving in Puerto Galera Philippines. The Highlight of the trip for me
was an 89 metre dive on Trimix for my 60th birthday . See write up below.
https://www.facebook.com/RUC.org
Tom Cordukes
Editor
Surface Interval
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February 2015
FROM THE DIVE OFFICER
Dive Officers Report – 27/1/15
________________________________________________________________________
Well the club has been out and about on the 1st month of the new year and I am looking
forward to reading the reports about their recent trip to Ulladulla and about their more recent
trip to Port Stephens.
I have not had the chance to participate in the ‘away’ club dives but I did manage to sneak
off to Shelley Beach on Tuesday 30/12/14 (doing a 7:25am entry) with a spectacular 20
meter plus viz. Then on Saturday 3/1/15 doing an 8:06pm entry (again at Shelley) with
Andrew, Natalie and Tom with a surprisingly lousy 2 meter viz that increased only marginally
with Tom’s new 1 billion watt Hollis Canister light. Saw heaps of Wobbies (up close &
personal) and we were then forced to duck and weave the drunken crowd of mostly back
packers to avoid an out of water incident. Geese that place can be scary on a weekend
summers evening. Lastly, on Saturday 24/1/15, through Frog Dive, Marc and I dived on
what is left of the SS Duckenfield off Long Reef with barely 2 – 3 meters of viz and a 14-15
deg temp bottom temp. 23 on top. The surge below was relentless and up top wasn’t much
better with a 1 knot southerly current and a 3 meter plus swell. Poor Marc lost his breakfast
before entry.
Herb’s conditions report for January is: - Saturday 10/1/15 at Long Reef – 20 meter viz.
Sunday 11/1/15 at Bluefish Point – 20-30 meter viz. Sunday 11/1/15 at The Apartments –
same excellent viz with 5-6 Grey Nurse sighted. Sat 17/1/15 at Long Reef – 15 meter viz.
Sunday 18/1/15 at the ex HMAS Adelaide – 15 meter + viz with a moderate current & slight
seas and on Sunday 26/1/15 at Magic Point – 5-6 meters of viz with 12 to 15 Grey Nurse
sighted.
On another note.
Did you know that the gate at the top of the stairs of the Shiprock Aquatic Reserve are closed
and locked by 9pm every night by the Sutherland Shire Council. I found this out earlier this
month whilst planning a night dive at the reserve. So it’s winter night diving at Shiprock or
bust!
Can’t wait to hear from you Tom about 89 meters at 60!!!
Phil.
APRÈS DIVE – SOCIAL REPORT
Après Dive – Social Report - Natalie McCallum
Hope everyone had a festive Xmas season and are raring to go for 2015 for both Diving
and Social.
Just gone:
RUC post Xmas camping at Anna Bay Port Stephens - Fri 23 Jan to Mon 26 Jan 2015
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February 2015
Unfortunately, Herb and I were unable to attend the annual summer camping at Port
Stephens this year due to the passing of my Father. It was my Father that got me
interested into Scuba Diving the moment I turned 16 and I haven’t looked back since.
The camping went ahead and enjoyed by all.
Coming up:
Saturday 21 February – Dive / BBQ Chinaman’s Beach
Enjoy a dive inside the Heads starting at 8am from Chinaman’s Beach weather permitting
followed by a sausage sizzle.
Sunday 15 March – RUC Treasure Hunt – Chowder Bay – Mosman
Shore dive starts at 9am followed by a club BBQ afterwards. Best to get there by 8am if
you wish to find a decent park. Find find “Mr Potato Head” to win a prize.
RUC Easter camping
– Thursday 2 April to Monday 6 April – Anna Bay Port Stephens.
Please contact Andrew Davies if interested. You will need to contact Val at Bays Holiday
Park on 02 4982 1438 to pay a deposit to secure either a cabin or a powered site.
Diving or socializing – we aim to have some fun  - if you have any suggestions or ideas
of what you would like to do please let me know. Watch this space!
Natalie McCallum
Social Officer
WEBSITE OF THE MONTH
“Like” the RUC’s Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/RUC.org
Send us your best website
DIVE REPORT – Puerto Galera Philippines
How to Apply for a Seniors Card then Dive to 89 Metres.
Well it was my birthday in the first week of January and I wanted to do something diving
related.
What about a 60 metre dive for my 60th birthday? It sounded like a good idea.
So I made a half a dozen calls to try to arrange something in Sydney, but no success.
One phone call to Tech-divers.com in Puerto Galera, Philippines, and I was in. Herb had
suggested PG before. And I got the OK from Wendy.
Only days between applying for a Seniors Card I dived to 89 Metres. How did that
happen?
Surface Interval
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February 2015
The preparation for the deep dive day was 5 days of diving, with 2 dives a day for the first
3 days then a dive a day for the last 3 days. The first dive for the PADI Trimix course was
2 ½ hours at 7 metres with my instructor Marco having me practice skills and buoyancy.
The last 3 practice dives were 63 metres (Certification for Trimix65) , 65 metres and 75
metres.
The last dive was reaching 89 Meters, for 9 minutes. The total dive time was just 60
minutes, we had 3 decompression gasses each , including a travel gas. Just two Trimix
instructors, Mads and Marco (head instructor) and myself were on the final dive.
The gas we used
Back gas was twin 11 Litre aluminium with TMx14/50 (14% O2 and 50% He and 36%
Nitrogen). This gas can't be breathed at the surface so needs a travel gas to go from the
surface to a depth that the 14% oxygen gas can be breathed.
There were 3 deco gasses , all 5.5 litre cylinders.
1.
TMx30/30 was deco gas to be used
ascending from 42 meters to 21 meters and
also this was our travel gas from the
surface to 32 meters on descent. The
descent switch to back gas was on the fly to
TMx 14/50
2.
TMx50/10 ascending from 21
metres to 6 metres
3.
and breathing 100% at just 6
metres.
In order to avoid a type of DCS called ICD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isobaric_counterdiffusion the
deco gas had to have Helium added for
breathing on the way back up. It took 9
minutes to descend and 50 minutes to
reach the surface.
Figure 1 Deco Cylinders
The Dive
Using a depth sounder, the boat crew dropped a "shot line" to a depth of 90 meters, with
spare deco tanks staged at 6 and 21 meters, in the event of a problem with one of the
regulators on the deco cylinders, and an extra bottom gas tank of 5.5 L was also carried.
So Mads carried 4 stages.
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February 2015
A deco bar hung at 6 meters connected to
the Shot Line. This is where we spent 25
minutes decompressing breathing 100%
oxygen. The deco line helped with
maintaining the required depth.
I used a Jon Line for the ascent as Marco
wanted to be sure that I didn't get swept off
the Shot Line with any sudden current.
Leaving the shot line would increase the
risk of getting to the boat, in the event of a
lost gas or drifting in the current while
ascending for 50 minutes and being well
away from where the boat was waiting for
us.
We descended down 89 metres and saw
only sandy bottom. It was quite dark, like
Figure 2 The Boat and Departure wharf
diving at twilight. Visibility was about 6
metres without a torch and about 15 metres with a torch. There was a barren reef about 15
metres away from the drop line.
Was it worth it? It made a great birthday present.
Gas Mixing
Gas mixing is important as all blends have to be within 1% of planned mixtures. Trimix and
EAN was partial pressure blended. We
used a Trimix tester to top up the super
expensive trimix gas in tanks rather than
dumping all gas and starting from scratch
with a new blend.
See the photos, many twins and stage
tanks are needed.
That night out for a celebratory dinner with
Mike and Yenny (Tec 40 certification) we
were all still buzzing from the great
experience.
The only regret is I forgot to ask other RUC
members to see who would like to
come.
Surface Interval
Figure 3 Helium being delivered
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February 2015
I spent a total of 17 days diving in PG, and
can highly recommend a trip. Prices for
food and diving is remarkably affordable.
Eg a modern house that accommodates 5
double room, 10 people right on the water
where the dive boat picks you up, costs
US$250 per night, for all 10!! A cook can be
arranged to cater for the group. And the
weather is brilliant all year round.
Figure 4 Gas Blending for an 89 metre dive
Figure 5 A reg hanger
Figure 7 More gear
Figure 6 Twins ready for gas testing
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February 2015
Figure 9 My Twins
Figure 8 Diver booth, for preparing the dive gear
Figure 10 More gear
Figure 11 Even more gear
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February 2015
DIVE REPORT - Ulladulla
Ulladulla Christmas-New Year 2014
This Christmas - New Year I managed to get an opportunity to get to Ulladulla thanks to
Peter Hardman for finding the available campsite.
The RUC gaggle was Myself & Yuni, Peter & Ilva Hardman and Bruce & Linda Spry with
Andrew & Toni Davis staying at a Milton Caravan park.
The first dive on the 28th went out with John Olsen & Jenny Bryant escorting in their boat
to North-East Bombie.
The site features a wall covered with spectacular gorgonian corals that was great to potter
around among. The water conditions: well the South Coast has been getting plenty of rain
and everything was green above water but also everything was green underwater due to
plankton, there was about 7-8m visability and the temperature was a 'refreshing' 16
degrees. This meant that we were looking forward to the post dive warmup.
The tanks were dropped into the shop that is now in the Kings Point industrial area.
The RUC tub went out alone the next day to LightHouse Wall the spot of choice. There
were similar conditions underwater. There was lot's to see along the wall and along the
base of the wall. Bruce insists a seal swam up behind me but 'no photo - no proof'...
By the 30th Andrew had returned to Sydney and John & Dale Chadd arrived in their
caravan & Joanna Spry set a hazard for unobservant wanderers with her swag.
Out we went again to Light House Wall again as the locals recommended. We nailed the
right spot again but unfortunately the visibility was down to 5m but all the good marine life
was still there. The wind changed while we were underwater which resulted in the anchor
line swinging from across the wall to hanging away from the wall. It was hard to spot but
we found the line OK.
The 31st had a strong Southerly blow which resulted in some excitement wrangling tarps
in the night. I had to pack up & return to Sydney so I missed the fireworks & New Years
celebrations in Ulladulla.
The next day the club tub ventured out to Burrell Rocks but the vis was poor with the
runnoff from Burrell Lake. But someone else can tell you about that dive....
Mal de Mer
DIVE REPORT – Australia Day 2015
Port Stephens Australia Day 2015
The club was away again this time we stayed at the Bays Holiday Park, Anna Bay.
Bruce & Linda Spry had their tent setup, Laura O'Brien had her swag established under
her gazebo, Ross & Susan were in a cabin & Andrew, Toni & the boys were also in a
cabin.
The first dive was on the high tide at Fly Point on Saturday with Ross, Laura, Bruce &
myself. This is usually a lovely dive & it didn't disappoint with 20 degree water & 10m
visibility. Lots of fish, lost of corals, lots of sponges & nudibranchs & .....
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February 2015
I must admit that I was haunted on this dive by some diver's with blue fins (not from our
group). Every time I looked up current no matter where we went I saw the same blue
finned diver kicking to maintain position in the flow, so I'd try to swim away to avoid any
sand or muck that they kicked up but poltergeist like they'd appear where ever we went....?
Sunday was a perfect day with water skiing conditions outside. Only Bruce, Laura & myself
were able to dive today & we all loaded our second tanks onto the tub to head out to
Broughton Island. The first dive was at North Rock with a surgy 5m vis we weren't familiar
with the reef bottom so we anchored 140m from the rock & played out come-back line. Air
was getting tight by the time we reached the wall but we didn't see much growth amongst
the kelp & rock substrate. Bruce & Laura swam back on a compass bearing & did a blue
water ascent near the boat while I beetled back along the bottom winding in the line along
path we had taken.
After a surface interval we contemplated our next dive, after some sounding around rather
than having a lucky dip at Broughton we decided to head back to the always enjoyable
Oakland shipwreck. Several schools of dolphins livened up the trip and GoPro's were at
the ready to catch them either side of the boat.
We found the Oakland mooring and quickly entered the water. This is one of the most
picturesque wrecks in NSW as it's still intact & looks like a ship and is a haven for marine
life. We had about 7-8m visibility. We swam the length of the wreck and the bow & the
stern are the most interesting structures but the marine life everywhere means there is no
boredom. There were wobbegongs & a catshark at the stern, rock cod & leather jackets
everywhere & nannygai in the bow. All in all a lovely dive just as my computer indicated 1
min no deco time it gave a low battery indication so not wanting to tempt fate we promptly
returned to the surface.
Overnight on Monday morning there was quite a storm cell that hit us with wind & hail.
RUC members survived it OK thanks to Linda's monitoring of the weather forecasts but
some others in the park suffered with many people leaving for home when the rain cleared
3-4am.
In the morning the RUC'ites leisurely packed up & returned to Sydney. There was some
discussion of if it would be worth trying Swansea Channel on the way home but the tide
was too late to be convenient.
A great weekend!
Mal de Mer
Surface Interval
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February 2015
Frog Dive Scuba Centre
9958-5699
Support the store that supports us!
FEBRUARY TIDES
Look up Tides Tables at NSW Maritime
http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/maritime/usingwaterways/tides-weather/tide-tables-2014-15.pdf
Or
http://tides.willyweather.com.au/nsw/sydney/fort-denison.html
WET CALENDAR – FEBRUARY 2015
DATE
LOCATION
CODE
DEPTH
(approx.)
Sun 1st
Sat 7th
Sun 8th
The Gap
Shelly Beach
R
S
24m
12m
MEETING PLACE &
TIME
DIVE ACTIVITY
LEADER (DAL)
Tunks Park 7:30am
Bruce Spry
Upper Car Park
Diego Molla-Aliod
Shelley Beach 8:30am
Sat 14th
Magic Point
R
18m
Tunks Park 7:00am
Bruce Spry
Sun 15th
Apartments
R
30m
Tunks Park 7:30
Mal Yeo
Thu19th
Club Meeting
M
Free
Ryde Eastwood
Mal Yeo
Drinks
Leagues Club 7:45pm
Sat 21st
Dee Why Wide
R
33m
Tunks Park 7:30am
Bruce Spry
Sun 22nd
Barrens Hut
R
16-26m
Tonkin Park 8:00
Phil Marino
Sat 28th
SS Hilda
R
27m
7:00am
Bruce Spry
CODES: C = Commercial Operator M = Meeting N = Night Dive R = RUC Tub S = Shore Dive B=BBQ
DATE
LOCATION
Sun 1st
Sat 7th
Sun 8th
Colours
Harboard Reef
WET CALENDAR – MARCH 2015
MEETING PLACE & TIME
CO
DE
DEPTH
(approx.)
TIDE
R
S
R
28m
14m
15m
R
18m
S/B
6m
10:55 0.54L
Thu19th
Molyneaux
Point
Chowder Bay
Treasure Hunt
Club Meeting
13:04 0.53L
10:11 1.63H
10:45
1.58H
15:38 1.22H
M
Sat 21st
The Arch
R
Free
Drinks
25m
Sun 22nd
Sat 28th
Sun 29th
Shelley Beach
The Leap
The Blowhole
Kiama
S
R
S
12m
27m
12m
Sat 14th
Sun 15th
Surface Interval
9:50
1.86H
10:41 1.78H
10:30 0.61L
11:31 0.65L
- 12 -
DIVE ACTIVITY
LEADER (DAL)
Tunks Park 7:30AM
Harboard Pool 8:00AM
Phil Marino
Phil Marino
Botany Bay Boat Ramp 8:00
Mal Yeo
Chowder Bay 9:00 potato dive
Natalie Ilic
Ryde Eastwood Leagues Club –
Denistone Room
Bushrangers Bay Ramp
Mal Yeo
Meet Upper Car Park 9:00
Kurnell 9:30
Meet at Blowhole Road Kiama
10:00
Mal Yeo
Andrew Davis
Andrew Davis
Andrew Davis
February 2015
SECOND HAND GEAR FROM MEMBERS – FOR SALE
Put you gear for sale in here
YOUR COMMITTEE 2014/15
PRESIDENT
SECRETARY
Mal Yeo
[email protected]
Bruce Spry
[email protected]
TREASURER
DIVE OFFICER
Diego Molla-Aliod
[email protected]
Phil Marino
[email protected]
EQUIPMENT OFFICER
MAGAZINE EDITOR
Clinton Unger
[email protected]
Tom Cordukes
[email protected]
SOCIAL OFFICER
WEB MASTER
Natalie Ilic
[email protected]
John Wall
[email protected]
SPECIAL OPERATIONS
Andrew Davis
[email protected]
MEMBER ONLY CONTACTS
Email Groups:
All Members: [email protected]
Committee: [email protected]
Yahoogroups:
ruc01: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ruc01/
rucom: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rucom/
CONTRIBUTE TO SURFACE INTERVAL
Regardless of whether you have been on an exciting dive lately or just been surfing on the internet,
if there is something you would like to share with your fellow club members, why not contribute to
the next edition of Surface Interval.
Email 300 words and a few photos or videos (or your buddy’s photos).
Remember articles submitted may be posted to the Club’s website and Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/RUC.org
SURFACE INTERVAL DEADLINE
The deadline for each issue of Surface Interval is the third Wednesday of the preceding month. That means
The deadline for the next edition is
Feb 26th 2015.
Surface Interval
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February 2015
Our members have a common interest in SCUBA diving. Dives are organised and
conducted nearly every weekend around Sydney using the club boat and sometimes boats
owned by club members.
Our club also organises weekend and holiday trips to interesting dive locations north and south of
Sydney. A variety of social activities are organised throughout the year for members and their
families.
Our club conducts meetings at 7.30 pm on the 3rd Thursday of each month at:
Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Club
117 Ryedale Road, West Ryde
New members are always welcome to attend our meetings and join in with our activities.
RYDE UNDERWATER CLUB INC.
PO Box 466 West Ryde NSW 1685
Website: http://www.ruc.org.au
Email: [email protected]
Ph: 0422 504 553
Surface Interval
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February 2015